Disc I01. Scavenger Of Human Sorrow02. Bite The Pain03. Spirit Crusher04. Story To Tell05. Flesh And The Power It Holds06. Voice Of The Soul07. To Forgive Is To Suffer08. A Moment Of Clarity09. Painkiller [Judas Priest cover]

Additional infoNuclear Blast Records released a deluxe edition in December 2005. It contains the original album as well as the DVD Live in Cottbus '98 and press pictures. It was also released as a DualDisc.

Relapse Records released a second deluxe edition on February 15, 2011. The album was remastered and reissued in deluxe 2-CD and 3-CD formats, with the additional CDs containing unreleased demo material.

Produced by Jim Morris and Chuck Schuldiner.
Engineered, mixed and mastered by Jim Morris at Morrisound Studios, Tampa, Florida.
Artwork by Travis Smith.
Art direction and design by Chuck Schuldiner and Travis Smith.

Remastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music.
Additional bonus material mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music.
Reissue coordination by Drew Juergens.
Layout by Jacob Speis.

This is it. Finally, after more than 10 years of waiting, we have got It. The one, the only the true thrash metal album. Death have had six releases, have made some drastic changes in their style and have achieved it finally.

Despite being labeled as the fathers of death metal, only their first album is truly death metal, mainly due to vocal abilities of main-man Chuck Schuldiner, who was never really a death vocal. His singing has steadily and gradually evolved into more and more shrieking, until now on this album we hear him really screaming. Not many people came to terms with it and have accepted, but it is what thrash metal is all about. Its most distinct feature are the vocals and Chuck has shown what thrash vocals should sound like. Screaming, aggressive, full of feeling, coming right from the heart. True thrash metal that is.

I'm not going to start this review with whining about how unfortunate we are for having lost Chuck Schuldiner back in 2001 and The Sound Of Perseverance being the last Death album. Chuck was a great musician indeed, but fate was too cruel to him, and he passed away. The legacy in form of his music though is with us, so let's talk about it.

What started off from Individual Thought Patterns and continued through Symbolic as a slight progressive-thrash deviation for Death casts its full blown dominance in The Sound Of Perseverance. Just before Chuck goes out with his plans on Control Denied, this album comes out.

It is very hard to single out highlight songs from an album with so many exquisite technical creations, nevertheless, "Scavenger OF Human Sorrow", "Spirit Crusher", "Voice Of the Soul", "Bite the Pain", "A Moment Of Clarity" stand out among the tracks. Listening to the whole album from beginning to the end is a downright MUST and also a request.

What better name for a metal band? Especially one concentrating so fixedly on the snuffing out of life? The sonic blood-curdling career of mainman Chuck Schuldiner is one of the most celebrated in the development of death metal as a thrash sub-genre. Death were the daddies of this hack 'n' slay brand of guitar violence, and anyone with even the vaguest wish to count themselves as practitioners of extreme noise, from Carcass to Deicide, from Obituary to Cannibal Corpse, would count Schuldiner's unholy racket as a major influence.

If Chuck kept his vocals in the same style as Death's first 2 albums then his later material would have been way better.

I'm not sure whether Chuck's different vocals on the later albums (and especially on TSOP) was due to him consciously altering them, or whether he just simply wasn't capable of singing in the same style as on earlier albums. Even before Chuck found out he had cancer, he had hinted that TSOP might be the last Death album, as he was finding it hard to keep singing in that harsh style.

Well the only Emperor album I like is Nightside, and to be honest I've never been bothered by the vocals from it (I've heard a few complaints that they're a bit "Waaaah waaaah" ish though). Not heard much Ihsahn stuff either. Not really my cup of coffee.

Well the only Emperor album I like is Nightside, and to be honest I've never been bothered by the vocals from it (I've heard a few complaints that they're a bit "Waaaah waaaah" ish though). Not heard much Ihsahn stuff either. Not really my cup of coffee.

They're perfect on that album because they're right where they should be mix-wise. Also, maybe they're just better on Emperor's first two albums, but after those Ihsahn's vocals bother me more and more.

One of my favorites. it grows on you. after a few listens, it just makes so much sense. vocal style is different but cool, and refreshing compared to cliche growling. if you dont want to listen just because of the vocals, then you'll never understand or appreciate this album (which is ironic because that's how extreme metal is). people who already decided to hate this album can't be helped, but those who are open-minded should give this one a chance.

Just cause people don't like something doesn't mean they're close minded. Conversely liking something doesn't mean the person is open minded.

Lol that wasn't even meant to be an insult but just because you dislike it you get offended. As I said before, I meant that people who didn't decide to hate it should perhaps give it a closer look rather than just panning it because of a certain aspect they didn't like. Also, being open-minded is not just about "liking" something but a general attitude. It is not competitive or argumentative. Good day.

Giving it a listen and not liking certain aspects is still being "open minded."

Indeed panning it for not liking certain aspects is quite reasonable.

Quote:

Also, being open-minded is not just about "liking" something but a general attitude. It is not competitive or argumentative. Good day.

You implied the opposite - your statement was loaded to imply it's an album for "open minded" types. Open minded is trying something out of one's comfort zone. For many metalheads Death is very much within their comfort zone.

Anyhow I've tried this album numerous times over 15 years and can't stand it. In fact I can't stand most things by Death. Give me Atheist anyday.

Giving it a listen and not liking certain aspects is still being "open minded."

Indeed panning it for not liking certain aspects is quite reasonable.

Quote:

Also, being open-minded is not just about "liking" something but a general attitude. It is not competitive or argumentative. Good day.

You implied the opposite - your statement was loaded to imply it's an album for "open minded" types. Open minded is trying something out of one's comfort zone. For many metalheads Death is very much within their comfort zone.

Anyhow I've tried this album numerous times over 15 years and can't stand it. In fact I can't stand most things by Death. Give me Atheist anyday.

S T O P T R O L L I N G.
1) Music is objective. Stop arguing with people that have nothing to do with you or your opinions.
2) Everyone's opinions on music is worthless. Take mine for what it is and don't convince me or anyone else otherwise.
3) You have a very hostile and insecure perspective. Neutral posts threaten your opinions so easily.
4) You don't have to give any examples of other bands or music, you don't get any awards for liking something else.

1) Stop arguing with people that have nothing to do with you or your opinions.

You basically accused everyone who doesn't like this album of being close minded.

Quote:

1)Music is objective.
2) Everyone's opinions on music is worthless. Take mine for what it is and don't convince me or anyone else otherwise.

Totally agree. Just don't accuse other listerners of close mindedness because their opinions aren't same as yours.

Quote:3) You have a very hostile and insecure perspective. Neutral posts threaten your opinions so easily.

Saying an album is for open minded people (thus implying people who don't like it are close minded) is not a neutral opinion. Neither is basically stating that people are close minded because they "are just panning it because of a certain aspect."

A neutral opinion would be "I like this album coz of (insert A) and think people should give it a go."

Quote:4) You don't have to give any examples of other bands or music, you don't get any awards for liking something else.

Merely stating my personal preferrence is for Atheist when it comes to proggy early 1990s Death Metal.

1) Music is objective. Stop arguing with people that have nothing to do with you or your opinions.
2) Everyone's opinions on music is worthless. Take mine for what it is and don't convince me or anyone else otherwise.

Totally agree.

Quote:3) You have a very hostile and insecure perspective. Neutral posts threaten your opinions so easily.

Saying an album is for open minded people (thus implying people who don't like it are close minded) is not a neutral opinion. Neither is basically stating that people who don't like the album because of some aspects are close minded.

Quote:4) You don't have to give any examples of other bands or music, you don't get any awards for liking something else.

Merely stating my personal preferrence is for Atheist when it comes to proggy early 1990s Death Metal.

Then what the fuck? By you even trying to argue being "open-minded" to an opinion in the first place is just unnecessary. There was no threat implied in my first post because I already excluded your opinion. Why can't you do the same?

Then what the fuck? By you even trying to argue being "open-minded" to an opinion in the first place is just unnecessary. There was no threat implied in my first post because I already excluded your opinion. Why can't you do the same?

Your exact words (emphasis is mine):

Quote: if you dont want to listen just because of the vocals, then you'll never understand or appreciate this album (which is ironic because that's how extreme metal is). people who already decided to hate this album can't be helped, but those who are open-minded should give this one a chance.

Basically what you wrote was:

1. People don't understand this album but you do (implies a sense of your own superiority).

Then what the fuck? By you even trying to argue being "open-minded" to an opinion in the first place is just unnecessary. There was no threat implied in my first post because I already excluded your opinion. Why can't you do the same?

Your exact words (emphasis is mine):

Quote: if you dont want to listen just because of the vocals, then you'll never understand or appreciate this album (which is ironic because that's how extreme metal is). people who already decided to hate this album can't be helped, but those who are open-minded should give this one a chance.

Basically what you wrote was:

1. People don't understand this album but you do (implies a sense of your own superiority).

3. Sound of Perserverance is for people with an "open mind" thus implying that haters are "close minded."

This is exactly what I am talking about. You perceive threats out of my post for no reason and out of nowhere. I told you it was not argumentative but you make it an argument in your mind. That's why you are the troll because you replied to my post in the first place. Please if you really can't like this album, don't read the forums because you'll waste everyone's time and yours.

This is exactly what I am talking about. You perceive threats out of my post for no reason and out of nowhere. I told you it was not argumentative but you make it an argument in your mind. That's why you are the troll because you replied to my post in the first place. Please if you really can't like this album, don't read the forums because you'll waste everyone's time and yours.

So the forums shoulds only be for people who like the albums? Wow, just wow!

You say it's not argumentative but accuse everyone who doesn't like the vocals as "not understanding the album" and being close minded. That is argumentative.

Personally I don't give a flying fuck that you like this album. That's your perogative. But people have every right to not like the album and every right to comment on an album as to why they don't like it.

I always think it's hilarious that fanboys crap on about being open minded but can't handle criticism of their favourite things.

This is exactly what I am talking about. You perceive threats out of my post for no reason and out of nowhere. I told you it was not argumentative but you make it an argument in your mind. That's why you are the troll because you replied to my post in the first place. Please if you really can't like this album, don't read the forums because you'll waste everyone's time and yours.

So the forums shoulds only be for people who like the albums? Wow, just wow!

You say it's not argumentative but accuse everyone who doesn't like the vocals as "not understanding the album" and being close minded. That is argumentative.

Personally I don't give a flying fuck that you like this album. That's your perogative. But people have every right to not like the album and every right to comment on an album as to why they don't like it.

I always think it's hilarious that fanboys crap on about being open minded but can't handle criticism of their favourite things.

You just ignored what I was trying to explain and assume I was saying people who hate this album are stupid. Just saying, you quoted my post and took it way out of proportion. I did not say half the things you said I implied, and if you can't see it, it's your own problem. All the aggression came from you, and now you pass it off by being passive-aggressive and saying this is all about freedom of opinion. Well, feel free to keep arguing this imaginary argument.

You're a funny dude. In the end you accused people of close mindedness and stated that forums are only for fans and then tried to psychoanalyse me. How hilarious.

Where did I say that statement EXACTLY? It's YOUR interpretation of what I said. And again why do you ignore replying directly and just keep generalizing my words? Are you a professional mind-reader and just put what I am exactly thinking in your posts as arguments to your precious, insecure mind? I should thank you for caring so much about my opinions that you would FORCE me to see that your opinion is much more legitimate than mine. Dickhead.

You're a funny dude. In the end you accused people of close mindedness and stated that forums are only for fans and then tried to psychoanalyse me. How hilarious.

Where did I say that statement EXACTLY? It's YOUR interpretation of what I said. And again why do you ignore replying directly and just keep generalizing my words? Are you a professional mind-reader and just put what I am exactly thinking in your posts as arguments to your precious, insecure mind? I should thank you for caring so much about my opinions that you would FORCE me to see that your opinion is much more legitimate than mine. Dickhead.